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The citizenry of India are especially sensitive to excessive linoleic
acid intake as noted by S. L. Malhotra in a research paper published back
in 1967. Excerpt: "Much evidence indicates that consumption of even small
quantities of unsaturated fatty acids decreases the liability to ischaemic
heart disease (Bronte-Stewart et al., 1956; Kinsell et al., 1952). This
hypothesis, too, does not find support in our data. The South...

The citizenry of India are especially sensitive to excessive linoleic
acid intake as noted by S. L. Malhotra in a research paper published back
in 1967. Excerpt: "Much evidence indicates that consumption of even small
quantities of unsaturated fatty acids decreases the liability to ischaemic
heart disease (Bronte-Stewart et al., 1956; Kinsell et al., 1952). This
hypothesis, too, does not find support in our data. The South Indians eat
largely seed oils containing as much as 45 per cent poly-unsaturated fatty
acids, whereas ghee and other milk fats eaten by the Punjabis contain only
2 per cent polyunsaturated fatty acids...A survey of the incidence of
acute myocardial infarction and the dietary behaviour in railway
populations in India showed that the disease was 7 times more common among
South Indians as compared with the Punjabis in the North, even though the
fat intake of Punjabis was 8-19 times more than that of South Indians, and
was chiefly of animal origin."[1]

In line with Malhotra's findings, here is an excerpt from a May 1,
2016 article published in the Times of India: "Clarified butter remained
India's culinary star for centuries till it was sidelined in the 1980s by
vegetable oils because of its high saturated fat. The new oils were
aggressively marketed as superior and heart-healthy. Of late, research has
shown that saturated fats have no link to obesity, heart disease or early
death."[2]

It's been noted that "No country has successfully reduced obesity
rates in 33 years."[3] Perhaps the time has come to develop a new health
paradigm. Obviously, the anti-saturated fat campaign has not been
particularly helpful.[4]